Tender bar
Ngoc Khanh
Three-story venue combining vintage bookstore, cocktail bar and rooftop garden. Housed in an atmospheric building, the space features winding bookshelves, a cave-like bar with blue ceiling, and a plant-filled terrace amid power lines.
Concept
A multi-level cultural space established in 2021, organically evolving from a friend's book storage into an integrated venue. The ground floor hosts dense bookshelves of Vietnamese literature, while the upper levels feature a moonlit-wave-inspired bar and a verdant rooftop.
Architecture & Design
- Ground floor: Winding bookshop corridors with vintage cassette players
- Second floor: Cave-like bar space with blue ceiling evoking waves
- Rooftop: Garden terrace integrated with urban infrastructure
Programming
- Daytime: Functions as café (7:30-19:00)
- Evening: Transitions to cocktail bar
- Regular movie screenings by 'a blur cinema'
- Live music performances
Technical Details
- Classic cocktail menu with off-menu specials
- Vietnamese coffee selection including salt coffee
- Resident cats frequent the premises
- Bicycle parking with provided locks
Cultural Context
Designed as an unpretentious refuge, the space deliberately maintains a low profile with no exterior signage. The interior arrangement reflects spontaneous evolution rather than planned design, creating distinct atmospheric zones across its three levels.